In the years following the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the Christian faith began to reveal itself as the full will and design of God. God had spoken to His people of old through the prophets, and finally had spoken by His own Son. As God's Spirit began to work through His people, the message of Christ and God's hope began to spread. It didn't take long to push out from its Jewish roots, reaching even the Gentiles. By the end of the first century, the Christian faith had penetrated to the ends of Europe, into Africa, and on into the east, as well.
By the time the third century rolled around, Christianity had grown greatly. It was no longer a faith that resided only in the various Jewish synagogues, but was also believed in the households of rulers, and of many of the common people. In just a couple of hundred of years, it had gone from a group of 11 men sent by God to encompass a whole continent and more. It no longer was a subversive faith, but had suddenly become the preferred faith. No longer on the outskirts, now the Christian faith was at the front and center of the Empire.
How did it get to be that way? During the first couple of centuries AD, this faith had been ignored, and then, at various times, heavily persecuted. Several rulers had tried their best to stomp it out. And yet, despite their best efforts, the Christian faith continued to grow. How was this? Well, the easiest answer is to say that it is from God, and no one can ever stop anything that is guided and directed by God. God has promised that His Word will indeed go out, and it will return bearing fruit.
But God's Word also works, not through ruling or dictating, but through influence. God's Word doesn't attempt to force people to adhere to its guidelines and rules and instructions. It seeks to change the heart and the soul of those who read it. God's Spirit works, not to force the believer to simply change the way (s)he lives, but to influence the heart and soul and mind of the believer.
God's Spirit and God's Word work to influence us. It works to show us the folly and foolishness of trying to do things our way, according to our design and plan. It shows us how God's design and will works, and what it looks like. It works to show us the price that God was willing to pay to restore us to Him. It works to show us Jesus, and to prove God's love in sending a Savior. It works to change our heart, which then leads to the change in how we live and act. It doesn't work to change only how we live and act.
Christianity is a faith of influence. That makes it a very challenging faith and, at the same time, a faith of deep conviction. When your heart is changed, it simply cannot help but impact the rest of your life. A mere change of behavior rarely will change the heart, but a change of heart cannot help but impact the rest of life. And that's how the Christian faith also works. It doesn't seek to bend people to God's will, but seeks to influence them by God's Word, through God's Spirit, so that they see what God has done for them.
By the time the third century rolled around, Christianity had grown greatly. It was no longer a faith that resided only in the various Jewish synagogues, but was also believed in the households of rulers, and of many of the common people. In just a couple of hundred of years, it had gone from a group of 11 men sent by God to encompass a whole continent and more. It no longer was a subversive faith, but had suddenly become the preferred faith. No longer on the outskirts, now the Christian faith was at the front and center of the Empire.
How did it get to be that way? During the first couple of centuries AD, this faith had been ignored, and then, at various times, heavily persecuted. Several rulers had tried their best to stomp it out. And yet, despite their best efforts, the Christian faith continued to grow. How was this? Well, the easiest answer is to say that it is from God, and no one can ever stop anything that is guided and directed by God. God has promised that His Word will indeed go out, and it will return bearing fruit.
But God's Word also works, not through ruling or dictating, but through influence. God's Word doesn't attempt to force people to adhere to its guidelines and rules and instructions. It seeks to change the heart and the soul of those who read it. God's Spirit works, not to force the believer to simply change the way (s)he lives, but to influence the heart and soul and mind of the believer.
God's Spirit and God's Word work to influence us. It works to show us the folly and foolishness of trying to do things our way, according to our design and plan. It shows us how God's design and will works, and what it looks like. It works to show us the price that God was willing to pay to restore us to Him. It works to show us Jesus, and to prove God's love in sending a Savior. It works to change our heart, which then leads to the change in how we live and act. It doesn't work to change only how we live and act.
Christianity is a faith of influence. That makes it a very challenging faith and, at the same time, a faith of deep conviction. When your heart is changed, it simply cannot help but impact the rest of your life. A mere change of behavior rarely will change the heart, but a change of heart cannot help but impact the rest of life. And that's how the Christian faith also works. It doesn't seek to bend people to God's will, but seeks to influence them by God's Word, through God's Spirit, so that they see what God has done for them.
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